Blaise Metreweli becomes Britain’s first female MI6 Chief as Intelligence Landscape Evolves
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London: For the first time in its 116-year history, Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service has appointed a woman to lead its foreign spying operations. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday named Blaise Metreweli as the next chief of MI6 agency founded in 1909.
Metreweli currently heads the agency’s technology and innovation division. She will officially step into her new role this autumn, succeeding Richard Moore, who led MI6 for the past five years. At 47, she becomes the only member of the organization whose identity is publicly acknowledged, assuming the post known simply as "C."
After the announcement Metreweli expressed her gratitude, “I am proud and honored to be asked to lead my Service.”
Prime Minister Starmer described the selection as “historic.” The domestic security service MI5 has previously been led by Stella Rimington and Eliza Manningham-Buller, while Anne Keast-Butler took charge of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) in 2023.
Her predecessor, Richard Moore, who came to the role from a distinguished diplomatic career, publicly expressed hope that his successor would help advance gender equality within the intelligence services. Last year, he noted on social media that he hoped to be “the last C selected from an all-male shortlist.”
The selection process for the MI6 chief began in March when the head of the civil service invited government departments to submit nominations. Candidates from across the intelligence community, civil service, diplomatic corps, military and law enforcement were considered. Metreweli, an internal candidate with a 25-year tenure in espionage, a Cambridge University degree in anthropology and a background in cutting-edge technology. She was also a member of the women’s rowing team during her university days.
"At a time of global instability and emerging security threats, where technology is power and our adversaries are working ever closer together, Blaise will ensure the U.K. can tackle these challenges head on to keep Britain safe and secure at home and abroad," said Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who is ministerial responsible for MI6.
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Railway exams postponed after pro-Kannada activists protests over exclusion of language
Bengaluru (PTI): South Western Railway on Tuesday abruptly postponed its recruitment examinations following protests by pro-Kannada organisations over the conduct of tests only in English and Hindi.
Members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike gathered outside exam centres in Bengaluru and Hubballi, demanding that the exams also be held in Kannada.
"The recruitment examinations have been postponed due to the protests and next dates would be announced later," a SWR official said.
Officials said the South Western Railway (SWR) had scheduled promotion examinations on Tuesday to fill 295 posts, including 194 posts of goods train manager.
Following the development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urged the Union Government to ensure that Kannada-speaking candidates are not subjected to "such injustice".
He also sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue necessary directions in this regard, demanding that the cancelled examinations be conducted at the earliest, with provision to write them in Kannada.
The morning exams were postponed after members of the pro-Kannada organisation staged protests near the exam centres in parts of the state including Bengaluru. The exams scheduled for the afternoon hours have also been postponed, he said.
Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has been opposing the move to drop the local language from the recruitment exams, stating it could prevent local candidates from appearing.
Welcoming the postponement, the organisation warned it would resume protests if the exams are held again without meeting its demands.
"Every state language must be respected. Candidates must be allowed to write exams in their respective state languages...Kannada in Karnataka, Tamil in Tamil Nadu, Marathi in Maharashtra, so that local candidates can have better opportunities to serve in higher positions," Hanumanthappa Ambigeri, a member of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, told reporters in Hubballi.
Taking to social media platform 'X', Siddaramaiah said the Railway Department has abruptly cancelled the promotion examinations scheduled to be held today for 194 Goods Train Manager posts in South Western Railway and 101 LDCE posts in the Hubballi division, placing Kannada employees in uncertainty.
This follows strong opposition from Kannadigas and Kannada organisations, he said.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that thousands of Kannada-speaking employees had already raised objections over the lack of provision to write the examination in the local language.
Despite peaceful protests, he alleged that the department failed to respond in time, cancelling the examinations at the last moment and leading to the present confusion.
"Had the department acted early and allowed the examination in Kannada, this situation could have been avoided. Instead, its indifferent approach and last-minute cancellation after protests intensified is condemnable," Siddaramaiah said.
The chief minister claimed that this is not the first instance, nor will it be the last, of Kannadigas facing injustice in central government examinations.
"Due to the continued imposition of Hindi in recruitment processes across central departments, Kannada candidates have long been subjected to unfair treatment," he alleged.
"It is unfortunate that this has occurred even when (state MP) V Somanna serves as Minister of State for Railways. I had expected that he would stand for Kannadigas and address this injustice, but that expectation has not been fulfilled. He must move beyond words and act in the interest of Karnataka," he said.
Siddaramaiah said that Kannadigas have already experienced the adverse impact of the Centre's preference for Hindi and neglect of regional languages. Restricting central examinations to Hindi and English is unacceptable, he said.
"India is a union of states formed on linguistic foundations. We do not oppose Hindi, but we will not accept its imposition over Kannada. Kannadigas are not seeking employment or promotion as charity, but asserting their right in the language they were educated in," he added.
